trumpet of death

noun

plural trumpets of death
: black trumpet
You might see cremini (just a baby portobello), or porcini, or cep, or the French trumpet of death, which is blackish and trumpet-shaped, but not deathly.Karen Mamone, Hartford (Connecticut) Courant, 31 Jan. 1999
Called trompettes de la mort in French, or trumpets of death, they are in the same family as chanterelles and share their fluted shape, but they're black and slightly thinner on the stem.Tara Duggan, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Feb. 2004

Word History

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trumpet of death was in 1977

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near trumpet of death

Cite this Entry

“Trumpet of death.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trumpet%20of%20death. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!